Rope clamp



April 23, 1929. c," GRAY 1,709,910

ROPE CLAMP Fi led June 16, 1928 im/enrich I mus/1601 s --m --w PatentedApr. 23, 1929.

CHARLES H. GRAY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

ROPE CLAMP.

Application filed June 16,

This invention relates generally to improvements in rope clamps and alsoto a clamp for securing an anchor lifting rope in various positions. Onefeature of the invention includes means by which when the device isarranged to project beyond the side of a Water craft or is placed in anequivalent position, so that the rope provides substantially verticaland horizontal portions and while a downward pressure is being exertedon the horizontal portion, the vertical portion can be raisednotwithstanding the fact that the clamp is engaging the rope. Anotherfeature is that when an upward pull is given on the horizontal. portionthe clamp is released and the rope may be lowered, the arrangementfurther being such that at all other times the clamp is operative tosecure the vertical portion of the rope at any desired degree ofelevation.

Features of the invention include the details of construction as well asthe arrange ment of the parts to gain compactness and to make for easeof assembly and cheapness in manufacture.

Features, objects and advantages of the invention will. appear in thedescription of the drawings forming a part of this application, and insaid drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the device applied to the prow of awater craft;

Figure 2 .is a section substantially on line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section corre sponding to Figure 2 but showingthe position of the elements when the clamp is released; and

Figure 4 is a detailed vertical section on line 44 of Figure 1illustrating the means for clamping the frame.

The device has found practical application as a means for clamping theanchor rope of a water craft, and therefore is shown applied to a watercraft in this instance to the prow thereof. It will be understood,however, that the device is not limited to this particular use althoughthe arrangement whereby it may be clamped isconsidered a feature of theinvention.

The prow of the water craft is generally indicated at 1. A frame isformed from a strip of metal bent upon itself to provide an outerportion having parallel sides 5 and an inner portion having divergentsides 6. The

" sides 6 are engaged flatly against the corresponding sides of the prowof the boat.

the invention.

1928. Serial No, 285,914.

Horizontal extensions 7 secure the frame at the forward portion againstdownward movement, and clamps secure the terminals of the arm 6 as bestshown in Figure 4. As will be seen, the clamps are made adjustable tofit different widths of gunnels. Each clamp comprises an L-shapedelement arranged as shown and connected by a rivet 9 to the arm 6, andthe arm 8 of this element has a threaded opening. A second L-shapedelement 10 is arranged as shown across the top of the arm 8 and has aslot 11 traversed by a binding screw 12 which cooperates with thethreaded opening of the element 8. In the vertical arm of the element 10is a clamping screw 15 right angularly related to the screw 12 and inthe same plane therewith. The adjustment for different widths of gunnelsmay be had by means of the slot 11 and screw 12 while the clampingactionis obtained by the element 15.

A very important feature of the invention is the rope clampingarrangement between the arms 5, and all "details of this constructionare claimed, as well as the general relations of the parts. A frameplate is placed against the inner surface of each arm 5 and extendsabove and below the arm as best. shown in Figure 3. Between these platesthe mechanism is arranged, and ajournal 21 secures the plates as well assupports pulley 22 and lever 23. A pivot 24: supports the clampingelement 25. It will, therefore, be seen that two fastening devicessecure the plates 20, pulley 22, lever 23 and clamping element 25. Thisis a feature of Another feature of the invention is that a single pivotsupports the lever 23 as well as the pulley 22. The lever in thisinstance is composed of strip-like material bent upon itself as at 26 toprovide opposite arms 27 each of which is rockable upon the journal 21as shown. The arms thus respectively lie at oppositesides of the pulleyand fiatly against the corresponding flat faces of the pulley. This is avery compact construction which makes the totalwidth of the journalandqpivot small. That end of the lever which is to be manipulated by thefree or unweighted end of the rope lies above the arms 5 and theopposite end lies below, asbest shown in Figures 2 and 3. The clamp isalso composed of a single piece of metal bent upon itself as at 28, thebent portionbeing cut awayas at 31 to provide a stop against Which acorrespending portion 32 of a. link 33 engages in the manner shown inFigure 3 to limit the movement of the eiement to open position. Thislink 33 is connected by pivot 34 to the clamp 25, and by pivot 35 to ta. \io'iz'nvmrdly extending portion of the lever 2 A block 36 is held bya pin 3'? betwe -n the r f the element 25 substantially as sho Figure 3,and the inner edge of this block serrated as at The working face of thisclamping block is so related to the periphery of the pulley that themost effective clumping engagement is obtained at a point above a line Adrawn through the pivot, see Figure 2, so that a Wedging action obtainedwhich is most effective at a point adjacent the line A--A but above it.The result is that any weight applied to the part b of the rope indirection of the arrow tends to increase the clamping action.

The rope passes upwardly between the arms27 of the lever, over thepulley 22 and then horizontally between the arms of the lever, and overa small rolier 4'1 and between this roller and the bend portion 26 ofthe lever The bond portion 26 is curved substantially as shown to reducefriction.

lifter passing between the element ll and the liiend portion, the ropepasses into the vessel and may be attached to a cleat, if desired. Thisattachment, however, 1s not necessary. It

will be noted that the lever forms a guile for the rope and that therope passes tvi-iee through the lever. In order to cause the clamp 26 tonormally occupy the position shown in Figure 2, a spring 42 is provided.In this instance, the spring .is connected by one end at 43 to one ofthe arms 27 of the lever, and by the opposite end to the face of frameplate 20. An extra bolt 44 cross-com meets the arms 2 as indicated. Theconstruction of the device is simple, and this simplicity is a featureof the invention, as well as the mechanical relation of the parts givingcompactness and power.

It will be seen that the rope can be pulled in direction of the arrow Cand the anchor raised, notwithstanding the factthat a downward pressureis applied to the lever causing the clamp 25 to be pressed against therope. When the element 0 is raised, the lever is rocked to a positionshown in Figure 3 and the clamp is released.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of an anchor guardwhich also forms a brace for more securely fastening the rope clampsupporting frame to the vessel. To this end, a guard member is formedfrom a single strip of n'icial bent upon itself as at 50 and attached asby a screw 51 to the prow of the boat adjacent the water line ortherebelow. By this bending two arms 52 are provided extending upwardlyand respectively lying at opposite sides of the elements 5 of the frame.Each arm is perforated, and the journal 21 travthe perforations, thesaid journal being in the form of a headed bolt having the headclampingly engaging one of the guard arms and having a nut at theopposite end in threaded engagement therewith and clampingly engagingthe other guard or brace arm. In this manner the journal of the devicealso acts as an attaching means for the anchor guard and brace. This isan important feature of the invention. The object of the guard is toprevent the anchor from hammering against the prow of the vessel when inraised position, either when the boatis in motion or at rest. The spacedrelation of the arms 52 prevents interference with the rope.

I claim as my invention:

l. A frame, a pulley, a journal carried by the frame and supporting thepulley, a lever pivoted upon the journal, a link connected to the lover,a pivot carried by the frame, and a clamp swingahle upon the pivot andconnected to the link, and arranged to en 'gage a rope passing over thepulley.

2. A. frame, a pulley, a journal carried by the frame and supporting thepulley, a lever p votally supported upon the frame, a link voted to thelever at. one side of the journal, a pivot carried by the frame on thesame side of the journal as the link, a clamp swin-nble upon the pivotand connected at one side of the pivot to the link, and extending towardthe pulley and arranged to have its opposite side engage and clamp aropepassing over the pulley, the long axes of clamp and lever extendingsubstantially in the same direction.

3. A frame, a pulley, a journal carried by the frame and supporting thepulley, a lever svvingalole upon the journal, a link pivoted to thelever at one side of the journal, a pivot carried by the frame on thesame side of the journal as the link, a clamp 'able upon the pivot andconnected at one c. of the pivot to the lever, and extending toward thepulley and arranged to have its opposite side engage and clamp a ropepassing over the pulley, and a spring connected to normally urge theelements in direction for clamping.

l. A frame, apulley, a journal carried by the frame and supporting thepulley, a

lever pivoted upon the journal, a link connected to the lever, a pivotcarried by the frame, and a clamp swingable upon the pivot and connectedto the link and arranged to engage a rope passing over the pulley, thearrangement being such that the long axes of lever and clamp areconvergent toward one end of the lever when the clamp is in clampingposition. i

A frame, a pulley, a journal carried by the frame and supporting thepulley, a lever as a frame pivoted upon the journal and having sides,one opposed to each flat side of the pulley, and having a guide at oneside of the journal, a link connected to the lever at the opposite sideof the journal, a pivot carried by the frame on the same side of thejournal as the link, and a clamp swingablc upon the pivot and connectedat one side of its pivot, to the link, and arranged to have its oppositeside engage a rope passing over the pulley, the arrangement being suchthat the rope passes through the lever, then over the pulley between theclamp and the pulley, thence through the guide and through the lever inan opposite direction, the sides of the frame assisting to preventlateral disengagement of the rope from the pulley.

6. A frame, a pulley, a journal carried by the frame and supporting thepulley, a lever pivoted upon the journal and having a guide at one sideof the journal, a link connected to the lever at the opposite side ofthe journal, a pivot carried by the frame on the same side of thejournal as the link, and a clamp swingable upon the pivot and connectedat one side of its pivot, to the link, and arranged. to have itsopposite side engage a rope passing over the pulley, the arrangementbeing such that the lever and clamp always rotate in the same directionas the clamp moves respectively to and from clamping position.

7. A frame providing spaced side elements, a pulley between the sideelements, a journal. carried by the side elements and supporting thepulley, a frame-like lever cireuniscribing the pulley and pivoted uponthe journal and having a rope guide at one side of its pivot, a linkpivoted to the lever at the opposite side of the journal, a pivotarranged between the side elements of the frame at that side of thejournal opposite the guide, a. clamp swingable upon the pivot andconnected at one side of its pivot to the link and arranged to have itsopposite side on gage a rope passing over the pulley, the arrangementbeing such that when the clamp is engaging the rope the long axes oflever and clamp are substantially convergent in direction of the guide.

8. A frame comprising a single length of flatmetal bent upon itself andproviding a pair of divergently arranged arms, means upon the arms todetachably secure and support the frame upon the prow of a water craft,a pulley, a journal connecting the arms, and rotatably supporting thepulley a lever pivoted upon the journal and having a guide at one sideof the journal, a link pivoted to the lever at the opposite side of thejournals, a pivot upon the frame at that side of the journal oppositethe guide, a clamp swing-able upon the pivot and pivotally connected onone side of its pivot, with the link, and arranged to engage on theopposite side of the pivot with a rope passing over the pulley, thearrangement being such that the rope after passing over the pulleypasses between the journal and clamp pivots, and all movable elementsbeing between the arms of the frame.

9. A frame, a pulley, a journal carried by the frame and rotatablysupporting the pnl ley, a lever pivoted upon the journal, :1 linkpivoted to the lever, a pivot; upon the frame, a clamp swingable uponthe pivot and pivotally connected with the link, and arranged to engageand clamp a rope passing over the pulley, said lever having a diametricrelation to the pulley journal, and comprising a single piece ofmaterial bent upon itself and providing arms arranged on opposite fiatsides of the pulley, a roller journaled between the arms adjacent saidbend-- end, and forming therewith a closed guide, the opposite ends ofthe lever being secured by the pivotal connection of said link.

10. A frame comprising a singlelengt-h of flat metal bent upon itselfand embodying a pair of divergently arranged arms, means upon the armsto detachably secure and support the frame in the prow of a water craft,a pulley, a journal arranged crosswise ot' the arms, and rotatablysupporting the putley between the arms, a lever diametrically related tothe journal and formed from a single piece of material bent upon itselfand providing arms one at each side of and engaging against acorresponding flat face of the pulley and pivoted upon the pulley jour-'nal, the bend-end of the lever having a roller pivoted there-adjacentand forming there with a rope guide, a link pivoted to and connectingthe free end of the lever at the opposite side of the journal, a pivotupon the frame at that side of the journal opposite the guide, a clampswingable upon the pivot and pivotally connected on one side of thepivot with the link, and extending generally in the same direction asthe lever and arranged to engage on the opposite side of the pivot witha rope passing over the pulley, the arrangement being such that the ropepasses twice between the arms of the lever respectively in oppositedirections and re s 'iectively at opposite sides of the journal.

11. A frame providing opposed arms, a pulley, a journal arrangedcrosswise of the arms and rotatably supporting the pulley between thearms, a lever diametrically related .to the journal and formed from asingle piece of material bent upon itself and providing arms one at eachside of and engaging against a corresponding fiat face of the pulley andpivoted upon the pulley journal, the bend-end of the lever having aroller pivoted there-adjacent and forming therewith a rope guide, a linkpivoted to and connecting the free end of the lever at the opposite sideof the journal, a pivot upon the frame at that side of the journalopposite the guide, a clamp swingable upon the pivot and pivotallyconnected on one side of the pivot with the link, and extendinggenerally in the same direction as the lever and arranged to, engage onthe opposite side of the pivot with a rope passing over the pulley, thearrangement being such that the rope passes twice between the arms ofthe lever respectively in opposite directions and respectively atopposite sides of the journal, so that pressure by the rope against theguide roller in direction of the frame causes the clamp to advance toclamping position.

12. A frame, a pulley, a journal carried by the frame and rotatablysupporting the pulley, a lever pivoted upon the pulley journal, andhaving a guide at one side of its pivot, a link pivoted to the lever atthe opposite side of its pivot, a clamp pivoted upon the frame at thatside of the pulley journal opposite the guide, and extending generallyin the same direction as the lever, said clamp connected at one side ofits pivot with the link, and arranged to engage the opposite side of itspivot with a rope passing over the pulley, the arrangement being suchthat the rope, after passing over and above the pulley, passes throughthe guide so that pressure by the rope exerted in one direction causesthe clamp to advance to clamping position, and so that pressure by therope in opposite direction retracts the clamp.

13. A frame providing spaced side elements, a pulley between theelements and a l zjournal carried by the elements and supporting thepulley, a frame-like lever circumscribing the pulley and pivoted uponthe journal, and having a guide at one side of its pivot, the long axisof the lever being substantially diametric to the journal, a linkpivoted to the lever at the opposite side of the journal, a pivotarranged between the elements of the frame at that side of the journalopposite the guide, a clamp swingable upon the pivot and connected atone side of the pivot to the link and arranged to have its opposite sideengage a rope passing over the pulley, the arrangement being such thatwhen the device is in operative position the clamp lies over the leverat one side of the journal, and the long axis of the lever and clamp areconvergent in direction of the guide when the clamp is engaging a rope,with the axis of the clamp substantially tangent to the periphery of thepulley.

14. A frame, a'journ'al carried by the frame and rotatably supportingthe pulley, a lever formed from a single piece of metal bent upon itselfand circumscribing the pulley and pivoted upon the pulley journal, andhaving a roller forming with the bent portion of the frame a guidearranged at one side of the pulley journal, a link pivoted to andconnecting the free ends of the frame lever at the opposite side of thepulley jou1- nal, a clamp pivoted upon the frame at that side of thepulley journal opposite the guide and extending generally in the samedirection as the lever, said clamp connected at one side of its pivot tothe link and arranged to engage at the opposite side of its pivot with arope passing over the pulley, the arrangen'ient being such that afterthe rope passes over the pulley then between the lamp and pulley, itpasses through the guide, so that pressure by the rope against the guideroller in a direction toward the frame causes the clamp to advance toclamping position, and pressure by the rope against the bend-endreverses clamp movement.

15. A device of the class described comprising a frame, a pulley, ajournal held in the frame, a lever, the lever and pulley being movabiymounted upon the journal, a clamp pivoted upon the frame and cooper-ablewith the pulley, and a link connecting the clamp with the lever, so thatwhen the lever is moved in one direction the clamp will engage a ropepassing over the pulley.

16. In combination with a boat, a frame attached thereto and projectingtherebeyond, a rope clamping device carried by the frame and including apulley having a journal passing through the frame, a guard connected atone end to the boat and having its opposite end secured upon the pulleyjournal.

17. In combination with a boat, a frame attached thereto and projectingtherebeyond, a rope clamping device carried by the frame and including apulley having a journal passing through the frame, a guard providing twoarms and connected at one end to the boat and having arms lying atopposite sides of the frame and secured upon the pulley journal.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of May,1928.

CHARLES H. GRAY.

